4 high-powered firearms seized

Photo by: Gemi FormaranCIDG-Cavite head Chief Insp. Danilo Balmes examines one of the four seized firearms shortly after the raid.

NAIC, Cavite -- Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) agents on Friday arrested two persons suspected to be members of a gun-for-hire group following the seizure of four unlicensed high-powered firearms and numerous ammunition during the simultaneous implementation of three search warrants in three houses at Bgy. Palangue III here.

Balmes, however, said they failed to arrest Ruelito’s father, Rodolfo Villa, who managed to escape using a secret back door.

During the raid, Balmes said Ruelito yielded an Armscor cal. .45 pistol with two magazines loaded with 13 live bullets, while an M-14 rifle with four magazines loaded with 69 live bullets were confiscated from Perido’s residence.

When searched, Balmes said they found an Elisco M-16 Armalite rifle with five short magazines loaded with 94 live bullets and a 12-gauge shotgun with 20 bullets.

Armed with search warrants issued by Sta. Cruz, Laguna Regional Trial Court Judge Cynthia Ricablanca for violations of Republic Act 10591 (Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation) and assisted by personnel from Naic Police Station, Balmes said they carried out the raid at exactly 4 a.m. in the presence of two village officials.

The suspects were detained at Naic Punicipal Police Station and were charged with violations of RA 10591.

Balmes said the bullets from the seized guns will be matched to slugs which police recovered in a recent shooting incident. He said the victims were killed by still an unidentified suspects using M-16 and M-14 rifles.